Programs and Events

Call for Nominations: Department of Statistics Award in Data Science

The Department of Statistics is soliciting nominations for the Department of Statistics Award in Data Science, an award to recognize the importance of developing and applying tools to answer important questions through the analysis of data. This $1,000 award is offered to an undergraduate or graduate student who has demonstrated initiative and creativity in making outstanding contributions in the field of Data Science. The award is made on the recommendation of the Department of Statistics Awards Committee and, in the case of a graduate student, in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

The nominee must be an undergraduate or graduate student currently enrolled at UBC Vancouver. The nominator must be a faculty member or someone in a suitable supervisory position such as a co-op program supervisor or research supervisor. Student self-nominations will not be accepted.

The nominator is to submit the following material in PDF format to , with subject line “Data Science Award Nomination”, by Wednesday, February 7, 2018: 

• a description written by the student of his/her achievements related to Data Science (not    to exceed 1 page); 
• a student resume/curriculum vitae; and 
• a supporting letter from the nominator (not to exceed 1 page).

While the Committee will consider high grades in relevant courses, the Committee will look beyond grades to more substantial achievements related to Data Science. Some examples of achievements are:

• creative and impactful data analysis via visualization techniques; 
• development of software to implement an innovative statistical approach; and 
• improvement of the computational aspects of a data analysis approach.

Such activities might have been as a course project or thesis, an end-product of a relevant co-op experience, or participation in an online Data Science competition, such as Kaggle.

For a list of previous winners, please see:  https://www.stat.ubc.ca/data-science-award.   If you would like to support this award please see: https://startanevolution.ubc.ca/projects/support-achievement-in-data-sci....

Speaking With One Voice - Geoscience Messaging in a Fragmented Community

The geoscience community is exceedingly  diverse, in experience, expertise and point of view.  This poses challenges when the community needs to act in a converted fashion or to speak with a coordinated voice.  Consequence, the geoscience voice i soften not influential in public debates and geoscientists' expertise and experience is not often a significant voice in public policy discussions.

This session is intended to explore the experiences of top-tier national geoscience organizations in representing the views of their national geoscience community in both national and international professional and public forums - how are they organized, how do they communicate, what are the advantages and challenges of a strong central organization versus a large number of small specialist groups.  We are looking for case histories, both successful and unsuccessful, as well as assessments of strengths and weaknesses of various approaches.  Invited presentations will detail the organization and communication strategies of various national geoscience bodies.  Presentations are also invited from those who have interacted with, used or otherwise benefitted from interaction with national geoscience bodies.

To submit an abstract please visit the RFG2018 website: http://rfg2018.org/en/RFG/2018/Technical-Program/Submit-an-abstract

Employment Opportunities

PhD and Postdoc Positions available in the ocean Frontier Institute (Canada)

The Ocean Frontier Institute is a major recently funded initiative, bringing together three Canadian universities with international partners in the USA and Europe, to pursue research focused on the Northwest Atlantic: http://oceanfrontierinstitute.com/. As part of this initiative, there are a number of PhD and postdoc opportunities and I would like to bring to your attention the following:

One funded PhD scholarship on physical and biogeochemical modelling of the northwest Atlantic ocean, with a focus on the drivers and dynamics of extreme events in biogeochemical variables. Details: http://oceanfrontierinstitute.com/uploads/general/Graduate_school_opportunity_Ocean_modelling_Dalhousie.pdf

One funded PhD scholarship to develop a physical ocean-ice model for a coastal region in Northern Canada (Nunatsiavut), with opportunities to understand drivers of past variability, collaborate with marine ecologists seeking to understand ecosystem change, and engage with local indigenous communities and government. Details: http://passage.phys.ocean.dal.ca/~olivere/media/Graduate_school_opportunity_Ocean_modelling_Dalhousie_ModE.pdf

Two funded PhD scholarships on using statistical and dynamical oceanographic methods to improve our estimate of the north Atlantic carbon sink, with implications for understanding the role of the ocean in past and future climate change.  Details: http://oceanfrontierinstitute.com/uploads/general/Graduate_school_opportunity_Ocean_data_Dalhousie.pdf

One funded Postdoctoral fellow position on spatio-temporal statistical modeling of ocean carbon in the Northwest Atlantic. Details: http://oceanfrontierinstitute.com/uploads/general/Postdoc_OFI-research-Auditing-NW-Atlantic-Carbon-Sink.pdf

An open call for international joint postdoctoral positions to be hosted between Dalhousie University and a partner institute of the Ocean Frontier Institute. If you are interested pursuing such a position to work on the drivers and predictability of marine heatwaves in the northwest Atlantic and Canadian Arctic Gateway please contact eric.oliver@dal.ca

For any questions on the Ocean Frontier Institute or these opportunities, please don't hesitate to contact me at eric.oliver@dal.ca

Research Lab Coordinator, LSA Earth & Environmental Science, University of Michigan

40% - Operational management of geochemical lab in support of research on climate and environmental change. Main focus of this position is instrument oversight to sustain continuous production of high quality geochemical data. Operate and maintain isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Thermo DeltaV+ with Kiel preparation system) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (Thermo ICAP 7400). Ensure data quality control. Maintain instruments. Diagnose, trouble-shoot, and repair electronic, mechanical, or other problems.

35% - Prepare and analyze samples, including oversight and training of new users (researchers, students, visitors). Advise users on proper sample preparation. Develop and enforce lab cleanliness and safety protocols.

25% - Data management, including working with IT support to ensure backup, archiving, and general organization. Manage ordering and record keeping; coordinate field logistics; support group web page.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  This job may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

For more information and how to apply, please see: http://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/151147/research_lab_specialist_inter